Cuban president calls exclusion of countries from Summit of the Americas ‘harmful’

Madrid, May 28. (Europe Press) –

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel accused Washington of meddling and described the exclusion of countries from the Summit of the Americas in the framework of the 21st Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance as “disrespectful and harmful to the sovereignty of states”. For the Peoples of the American Trade Treaty Peoples’ Agreement (ALBA-TCP).

He noted that they “claim to be advocates of democracy that they deliberately confuse with their system, but are unable to guarantee a pluralistic space. They pretend to be interested in a constructive relationship with our region, but they do not respect the differences,” he said. .

The Cuban president said that “the United States, with its hegemonic and anti-democratic practices, without any kind of justification, intends to ignore and silence this just demand, even resorting to maneuvers of deception,” adding that Al Jazeera has participated and participated in other occasions “which shows their willingness to constructive dialogue.”

In this sense, he explained that Washington “ignoring” the demands of the various American countries to hold a “real hemispherical summit.” He noted that “the nature of relations in the Western Hemisphere must change,” adding that America has changed and that “exceptions are no longer possible.”

He noted that “Latin America and the Caribbean, united in its diversity, with a resolute and exemplary voice in coordinating our development strategies and defending sovereignty, is essential,” Cubadebate reports.

Díaz-Canel also stressed the progress that Cuba has made, despite the coronavirus epidemic, and noted that it is evidence that the island “does not stop despite the severe tightening of the blockade and the constant political harassment.”

Similarly, the ALBA-TCP Summit participants issued a statement condemning this “unilateral decision”, as it “constitutes a serious historical setback in relations between the Western Hemisphere and insults the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.”

They added, “(Members) support and appreciate the courageous and dignified stand taken by the governments, social actors, organizations and brotherly peoples of our continent, who have vehemently and in various ways rejected the exceptions to the Los Angeles meeting.” to Granma.

The meeting, organized by Havana, was attended by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, while Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega participated virtually, La Prensa newspaper reported.

“From the 21st ALBA-TCP Summit, I expressed the gratitude of the people of Venezuela to the President of Argentina, Alberto Fernandez. His resolute voice will be one of the strongest that question the exclusion and attempt to divide Latin America,” Maduro added on his official Twitter page, referring to the president’s doubts about Summit attendance.

The US government said earlier this month that Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela would not receive an invitation to the summit in Los Angeles, arguing that they were not democracies. “Countries that do not respect democracy because of their actions will not receive invitations,” said Under Secretary of State for the Western Hemisphere, Brian Nichols.